The high school football landscape changed a great deal across the state this past offseason, with multiple teams moving up in classification and/or changing leagues.

Nowhere was this shift felt more strongly than in Western Class B, where defending state champion Scarborough and perennial powers Leavitt and Kennebunk have gone in different directions and Falmouth and Greely have stepped in to fill the void.

With Scarborough moving to the SMAA, Gorham should rebound from a disappointing 4-5 season and contend for Campbell Conference supremacy. With 16 returning starters, including running backs Sheldon Jones, an all-conference selection last year, and Andy Oldenburg, who led the team in rushing as a freshman, the Rams’ double-wing offense should chew up plenty of yardage on the ground.

While Gorham boasts an intact running game, Mountain Valley will have to find a replacement for workhorse Brent Gallant. Seniors Eric LaPage and Dickie Cote figure to get the most opportunities. They’ll have a veteran offensive line to run behind, anchored by all-state guard Travis Dragoon. LaPage and Cote also figure to play a big part in the passing game, as Falcons running backs traditionally do. Zach Fergola takes the reins at QB, where he saw spot duty last season.

The defense once again should be key for the Falcons. Last year, the defense typically wore down opponents and gave the offense a chance to rev it up. Dragoon, Fergola and LaPage are the veteran nucleus charged with setting the physical tone for the unit this year.

Wells figures to return to contention again this year after several seasons at the bottom of the standings. The Warriors have one of the league’s top rushers in Luke Sibley among 14 returning starters.

York hopes its decline is shorter than Wells’ has been. The Wildcats dropped to 2-7 last year after back-to-back Western B championships. Though the Wildcats are still young, the rebuilding that went on last year should start to pay dividends this fall with 15 starters back.

Lake Region hopes to stay in playoff contention after losing 18 starters that helped the Lakers reach the Western B semifinals for the second straight year. QB Josh Woodbury could emerge as one of the top signal-callers in the conference after seeing part-time duty last year.

Fryeburg will try to replace the 16 seniors it lost to graduation, and coach Jim “Fuzzy” Thurston plans to make the most of the fresh start.

Besides new personnel, the Raiders will make one notable change on offense this year, adding the tight end to their scheme.

“For us, that’s a step back into the Dark Ages,” Thurston said. “We’ve always thrown the ball, and that’s where our strength will probably lie this year, too.”

Junior QB Andrew Stacy, who filled in a couple of games in 2002, gets the starting nod this year. He has three impact receivers in tight end Ryan Wallace, wide receiver Michael Stacy and running back Nate Broyer. With only one returning lineman, the Raiders will need to gel quickly up front to give Stacy time to throw.

The Raiders defense also will have to make do with an inexperienced line. The secondary, led by Wallace, Michael Stacy and Broyer, should be the strength.

Falmouth and Greely move up from the Developmental League. They’re both young programs with young rosters that could improve as the season progresses.